Air conditioner



AIR CONDITIONER 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 5, 1955 H. A. MEYER ET AL May 5, 1959 AIR CONDITIONER Filed May 5, 1955 4 Sheecs-Sheefl 2 May 5, 1959 H. A.MEYER ET AL AIR CONDITIONER 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 5, 1955 ELE- 4 EL." y

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HUMA/nfs May 5, 1959 'H. A. MEYER ET AL 2,884,769

AIR CONDITIONER v 4 ASheets-Sheet 4 -Filed May 5, 1955 INVENTORS United States Patent G AIR CONDITIONER Harry A. Meyer and Axel F. L. Anderson, Detroit, Mich.,

assignors, by mesne assignments, to American Radiator & Standard Sanitary Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Application May 5, 1955, Serial No. 506,262

2 Claims. (Cl. (i2- 288) This invention relates generally to air conditioners, and particularly to mechanisms for filtering, heating, cooling and propelling air.

It is conventional to provide in air conditioners separate filter box assemblies, separate heat exchanger assemblies, and separate air propelling or blower assemblies. Generally the heat exchanger assemblies and blower assemblies are secured together on a common tank or base member and sheathing is provided around said assemblies. The filter box assembly is usually of lightweight construction which permits it to be attached on one end (preferably the upstream end) of the sheathed assemblies. The tank or base member not only mounts the heat exchanger assemblies and blower assemblies but also provides a reservoir into which condensed moisture from the treated air may drain as the air passes through the conditioner.

In some instances it is desired to provide in the conditioner a heater and a cooler. In other instances it is desired to provide only a heater, or only a cooler, or perhaps two heaters. In the prior art constructions the number of heat exchangers employed 'will determine the size of tank and sheathing.

In the interests of lowered parts inventories and lowered production costs it is desirable to reduce the number of different parts to a minimum. It is desirable therefore that only a single size tank and only a limited number of different sheathing panels be employed in construction of the various conditioners.

The present invention provides for the employment of a single relatively small tank by utilizing in conjunction with the tank an adjustable drain pan. The drain pan can be extended from the tank or it can be retracted into the tank, depending on the number of heat exchanger units which it is desired to employ in the conditioner. If no heat exchanger units are to be employed in the conditioner the drain pan can be omitted and the filter box assembly secured on the upstream side of the blower assembly.

Reduction in the number of sheathing panels is effected by utilizing frame portions of the heat exchanger assemblies as sheathing panels. Each assembly is so constructed as to provide its own sheathing, and no sheathing is provided around a plurality of the assemblies as in the prior art constructions. Preferably the heat exchanger assemblies are constructed in substantially the same manner as the assembly shown in United States Patent No. 2,615,687 issued to Lance L. Simmons.

The filter box assembly preferably comprises a rectangular frame and one or more H-shaped members for retaining the individual filter cells in the frame. The numr ber and disposition of the H-shaped members depends on the number and size of filter cells required in any given installation, the H-shaped members serving to allow a single size frame to accommodate a plurality of different size filter cells. Preferably the frame is comprised of a number of one piece bar members for accommodating both the H-shaped vmembers and one or more block olf members. These block off members span the joints between adjacent lter cells and thereby prevent unlter air flow through said joints.

Conventionally the filter cell dimensions are not held within close tolerances. As a result, it is preferred to provide compressible and extensible means between the filter cells and rectangular frame, whereby to compensate for differences in filter cell dimension and prevent noise emitting vibrations of the filter cells.

The blower assembly in one embodiment of the invention comprises a forwardly curved multi-blade, kinetictype impeller or fan in which the air is introduced into the eye of the impeller and discharged from the periphery thereof. It has been found that the air in the impeller has a tendency to induce a swirling motion in the air just entering the impeller. This swirling motion (which continues as the air ows into the impeller) acts to keep the air moving around in the impeller interior instead of being discharged out the fan periphery. As a result, the air moving efficiency of the impeller is reduced. Preferably a plurality of vanes are provided at the impeller inlets for preventing the air from swirling about as it enters the impeller interior. These vanes cause the incoming air to move axially into the impeller interior instead of circumferentially as in a swirl.

One object of the invention is to provide lfor reduced parts inventories by utilizing an extensible and retractable drain pan in conjunction with a standard size drain tank.

Another object is to provide for reduced parts inventories by eliminating the sheathing panels which are conventionally employed over the heat exchangers and blowers and instead utilize frame portions of the heat exchangers as sheathing elements.

Another object is to provide a filter box assembly having improved and more economically constructed mechanisms for retaining filter cells.

Another object is to provide a lter box assembly which, with a minimum of parts replacement, can accommodate different numbers and ydifferent sizes of filter cells.

Another object is to provide in a filter box assembly a one piece bar member for (l) securing the assembly on an adjacent support, (2) accommodating certain filter cells and cell-supporting elements, and (3) supporting certain cell-spanning blockoff members.

Another object is to provide a blower assembly of improved air-moving efficiency.

Another object is to provide in a blower assembly a mechanism for preventing incoming air from swirling around in a closed circle Within the blower impeller interior.

Other objects of this invention will appear in the following `description and appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several Views.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side view of an air conditioner unit embodying the invention,

Figure 2 is a View taken on line 2-2 in Figure Figure 3 is a view taken on line 3 3 in Figure Figure 4 is a view taken on line 4 4 in Figure Figure 5 is a view taken on line 5--5 in Figure Figure 6 is a vieW taken on line 6--6 in Figure 4,

Figure 7 is a view taken in the saine direction as Figure 5 but with certain filter cell-supporting elements removed whereby to allow for the accommodation of different sized filter cells,

Figure 8 is a side view of a blower assembly employed in the Figure 1 embodiment, and

Figure 9 is a view taken on line 9--9 in Figure 8.

Before explaining the present invention in detail, it is Patented May 5, 1959` to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

Referring to the drawings the Figure 1 embodiment includes a blower assembly 1, two heat exchanger assemblies 2 and 3, and a filter box assembly 4. The fan or impeller in assembly 1 draws air in through filter box assembly 4, heat exchangers 2 and 3, and the eye of the blower fan or impeller. Air is discharged from the fan blade periphery through outlet 47. Blower assembly 1 and a portion of heat exchanger assembly 2 are seated on three angle members 11, 12 and 13 secured to certain upstanding walls of a tank or base member 5.

Tank 5 includes a bottom wall 6 and four upstanding walls 7, 8, 9 and 10. Wall 10 is of reduced height as compared to walls '7, 8 and 9 whereby to provide a free space between the top edge of wall 10 and the lower extremity of heat exchanger 2. This free space receives a drain pan 14 which extends from adjacent `the upstream end 18 of heat exchanger 3 to a point 15 within tank 5. If another heat exchanger (not shown) were to be employed in the conditioner pan 14 could be slid on the upper edge of wall 10 to the right (as viewed in Figure 1). If -it were desired to utilize only one heat exchanger pan 14 could be slid to the left. The right end of the drain pan may be supported in any convenient manner `but as shown in the drawings the drain pan is supported on brackets or ledges 16 extending from yangle iron legs 17. The primary function of legs 17 is to cooperate with tank 5 and blower assembly 1 in the support of relatively heavy heat exchangers 2 and 3. Fittings 60 of the heat exchangers extend outwardly beyond the limits of pan 14 so that in some cases it may be desirable to cut an opening in the pan and provide an extension therefor (as shown at 61 in Figure 2) whereby to collect any condensate which may drip from the fittings.

The upstream face of heat exchanger 3 has bolted thereto the previously mentioned filter box assembly 4. Assembly 4 includes a pair of horizontal frame members 19 and 20 interconnected at each of their ends by two vertical channels 21 and 22. Each of frame members 19 and 20 includes end anges 23, horizontally-extending web portions 24, and a U-shaped channel portion 25. Flanges 23 are provided with bolt holes for securement of the lter box assembly on an adjacent structure such as heat exchanger 3. Web portions 24 have extended therebetween a number of vertical channel members 26. These channel members function as block off members in that they extend across the joints between adjacent iilter cells 27 (shown 4in dotted lines in Figs. 5, 6 and 7) and thereby prevent or block off uniiltered air ow through said joints. There extend across the space between channels 21, 22 and 2S one or more H-shaped elements 28, 29 or 36. The number of H-shaped elements employed will depend on the number and size of filter cells which the particular installation requires. The larger size cells are conventionally constructed in heights corresponding. to the dimension A in Figure 7. Therefore, when it is desired to employ larger size filter cells only one H-shaped member need be employed. The smaller size cell-s are conventionally constructed in heights corresponding to the dimension B in Figure 5. Thererfore, when it is desired to employ smaller size iilter cells a plurjality of H-shaped members are employed, in which case the intermediate member 29 is employed to aid in the retention of two series or levels of lter cells.

Securement of the filter rcells in the assembly is accomplished through the use of two compressible and extensible elements 33 and 34 mounted on bracket arms 35 and 36 which extend from the inner faces of closure panels 37 and 38. Elements 33 and 34 press against the vertical edges of filter cells 27 so as to prevent them from vibrating and causing noise. Elements 33 and 34, because of their deformable characteristics, also compensate for any differences in filter cell dimension. Panels 37 and 33 are provided with a plurality of key hole slots 39, which lockingly engage headed pins 40 projecting from the Web portions of channels 21 and 22. Filter cell insertion and removal is effected by sliding panel 37 and/or panel 38 upwardly so as to bring the enlarged portions of slots 39 into registry with pins 40 and thereafter withdrawing the panels horizontally from engagement with the pins. The filter cells can then be slid in and out on the H-shaped members through the open ends 31 and 32 of the assembly.

Blower assembly 1 includes one or more fan casings 41 and one or more cylindrical fans 42. Fans 42 are preferably of the double-intake form wherein air is taken into the eye ofthe fan at both of its ends. Air discharge is through the fan periphery.

The fan is powered by a motor 43 operating through a pair of sheaves 44 and 45 and a belt 46. Rotation of the fan by motor 43 causes the fan blades to dig into the air in the eye of the fan and propel it through the fan periphery into outlet 47. The propelled air is given a certain circumferential push as it flows through the fan blades. This circumferential push tends to keep the incoming air moving around in a closed circle within the fan interior instead of being drawn out through the fan blades. It is desirable to prevent or minimize this cincling or swirling of the air in the fan interior. For this reason there are provided at the end of fan casing 41 a plurality of radially-extending vanes 48. Each of these vanes includes an air directing wall 49, a flange 50 for securing the vane to casing 41 and a flange 51 for securing the vane to an adjacent vane. Flanges 51 are so arranged with each other as to provide a circular opening 52 for the fan shaft S3.

As will appear from Figure 8 walls 49 of the vanes extend radially of the fan blades. This radial disposition allows Walls 49 to prevent the air from taking a circular or swirling motion as it enters the eye of the fan. Instead the entering air is directed axially and the tendency to swirl is reduced. Elimination of swirling through the use of vanes 48 has been found to increase the air moving eiiiciency of the fan, thereby contributing to a more economically operated conditioner apparatus.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

l. An air conditioner comprising a rectangular drain tank; a rectangular blower casing positioned over the drain tank and having an air inlet opening in one of its vertical walls; at least one scroll-shaped fan housing positioned within the rectangular casing with the eye of the fan housing extending at right angles to the inlet opening in said rectangular casing; at least one rectangular heat exchanger assembly secured against the aforementioned vertical wall of `said blower casing; and a drain pan extending from the drain tank and beneath the heat exchanger assembly; said pan being mounted for retracting and expansible movements to adjusted positions beneath the heat exchanger assembly.

2. An air conditioner comprising a rectangular drain tank; a rectangular blower casing positioned over the drain tank and having an air inlet opening in one of its vertical walls; at least one fan housing positioned within the rectangular casing for drawing air through said inlet opening; at least one rectangular heat exchanger assembly secured against the aforementioned vertical wall of said lower casing; and a drain pan extending from the drain tank and beneath the heat exchanger assembly; said pan being mounted for retracting and expansible movements to adjusted positions beneath the heat exchanger assembly.

(References on following page) References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Good Oct. 24, 1933 Beardsley Feb. 2, 1937 5 Myers Apr. 20, 1937 6 Wilson Oct. 6, 1942 Galazzi Oct. 6, 1953 Trask Dec. 8, 1953 Baker Dec. 22, 1953 Mazek May 4, 1954 Smith July 26, 1955 

